Posted!

Join the Conversation

Comments

Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only.
This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you.
You do not need a Facebook profile to participate.

You will need to register before adding a comment.
Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in.

Please be polite.
It's OK to disagree with someone's ideas, but personal attacks, insults, threats, hate speech, advocating violence and other violations can result in a ban.
If you see comments in violation of our community guidelines, please report them.

Gov. Scott Walker signs legislation limiting new state regulations

Gov. Scott Walker tips his hat to Chairman Bob Mariano of Roundy's as he makes his way to the stage during the Governor's Livestock Auction on Aug. 12, 2015, at the Wisconsin State Fair. The Grand Champion Steer went to Roundy's for $65,000, breaking the record price of $59,000.(Photo: Katie Klann/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

State agencies will have to take added steps and meet higher standards to approve new rules, under legislation signed by Gov. Scott Walker Wednesday.

The measure allows a co-chairman of the Legislature's rules committee to request that agencies hold public hearings before submitting scope statements on new regulations. In addition, under the bill, the state Department of Administration would also need to review an agency's scope statement for proposed rules.

Since 2011, Walker and GOP lawmakers have given the governor more power over new environmental and other regulations, including a requirement that the governor sign off on a scope statement before new rules are written. The vetting by the administration department will now come before Walker's review.

The proposal also requires the full Legislature to sign off any administrative rule that would make the public pay more than $10 million to comply with it.

In addition, the legislation allows the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules to object indefinitely to proposed rules and not just temporarily. A committee co-chairman can also contract with an outside group to analyze the compliance cost to the public of a new rule.

The GOP-backed measure passed the Legislature on party-line votes in May and June.